Combination-lock mechanism



Oct. 4,1927.

P. s. MILLICE COMBINATION LOCK MEQHANISM Filed April 9.. 1926 z r T1 n I H ,3 Ilulif =1 g q :15, a A ww understood from the following description Patented Oct. 4, 1927.

warrenstares- Lan rarest ori ce. I

PAUL S. LIILLIGE, OF I-IA1VIILTO1\T,'O1-IIO, ASSIGNOR TO HERRING-HALL-1VIARV1N SAFE COMPANY, OF NEVIYOBK, N. Y.

, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

COIvZBf INATION-LQCK IVIECHANISM;

Application filed A ril 9,

vrovide novel means whereby the locking means for the respective coaxially arranged tumblers may be released progressively from the inner end ofthe lock in order that rearrangement of the tumblers may be effected without knowledge of the previous setting of the tumblers; and, further to provide novel means whereby the key cannot be withdrawn without interlocking the membors ot the respective tumblers, whether collectively. or separately set.

It is the object of my invention further to provide a novel tumbler assembly, and novel means whereby resetting ot the respective tumblers is obtained; and, further, to provide novel means whereby a key is employed for resetting the tumblers without knowledge of the previous combination to which the lock had been set, or after disarr gement of such previous setting, in order that the combination may be reset. for instance, during the day, when successive employees have access to the compartment which is locked by the combination lock.

The invention will be further readily and claims, and from the drawings, lllWhlCll latter l l is a front elevation, showing aneX- em 'ilified dial of my improved look. I

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of myimproved device, partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a central axial section of the -mel taken in the plane of the line 33 of 1926. Serial in. 100,804. v

same, taken on the line 88 vof Fig. 5; and, Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the key. I i 11 represents the wallet the safe or compartment on whichmy improved combination lock is mounted This is lisually the door of a safe or compartment. Thecasing of the lock is shown at 12, and comprises a front wall 13, an annular side wall 14, in, which there is an'opening 15,and a rear wall 16. The rear wall is removable, and is arranged to be attachedto the casing by means or screws 17 passing through holes in lugs 18 onthe rear wall, and threaded into lugs 19 on the casing.

An axle 21 extends forwardly from the rear wall and forms a journal'on'which tumblers 22, 23 and 24 are preferablyre-' leasably held, as by means of a spring-ring 25, received in a groove 26in the inner end or the axle;

The respective tumblers are'separated by washers 27, provided withlugs 28, received in a key-way 29 in the axle, one of these washers being located between the outer tumbler and the spring-ring 25. The inner washer bearsagainst a narrow "annular flange 30, extending inwardly from the rear wall. This construction provides ease of rotation of the'tumblers and'prevents one tumbler being rotated by the other by mere friction.

The tumblers, assembled on the rear wall, v

are arranged to be moved as anassembl'y into and out or the cavity in the casing. v

Theftumblers are readily removable by removal of the spring-ring 25, for separate setting of the tumblers when removed from the lock; The reset tumblers" and the washers are readily'replaced about the axle, and the spring-ring snapped intolplace, for reassembling the parts. 7

Each of the tumblers comprises a hub 31 and disks 32,83. The hub'is provided with annular rabbets 34, 85, in which the disks are seated in such manner that relative rotation may be obtained between the disks andthe hub. The disks are united and spaced apartrby means of shoulder rivets 86,'the disks resting upon the shoulders of the rivets for determining the space'37. therebea tween, the outer ends of the rivets being upset, for holding the disks in place. The iub forms an inner member and the united disks an outer member of the tumbler.

The inner edges of the disks form bearings about the hub. The hub has a radially extending flange 41, which is received in the space 37 between the disks, for associating the hub and the disks in axial directions.

A locking part 42, shown as a split-spring locking ring, is positioned by a bearing 43 about one of the rivets cry of the hub 31 is provided with teeth 44, the teeth being shown on the outer periphery of the radial flange of the hub in the space 37. The inner face of the locking ring is at its sides provided with toothed faces 45.,coacting with the teeth 44, for holding the hub and the disks in relatively adjusted relations.

The lockingring is provided with a slot 46 at the split therein, forming walls 47, between which a key is arranged to be in sorted for spreading the locking ring, and

releasing the locking engagement between the locking ring and the hub, when relative adjustment between the hub and the disks is desired, the locking ringbeing permitted to contract, for again maintaining the hub and disks in newly adjusted relation, aftertheresetting of the tumblers has been accomplished.

The outer face of one of the disks is provided with adi al 51, the graduations of which correspond with the graduations of the dial on the dial-plate 52 at the outside of the wall ll..' t will be noted that the graduations of these dials form a complete circle, the entire circle being available for graduations in my improved device.

The hub is provided with a mark 58, W-ith which any one of the graduation marks on the dial 51 which is arranged to be placed in registry, for determining the relation betweenthe inner member, exemplified as the hub-31, and the outer member, exemplified as the connected disks 32, 33, of the tumbler,

andconsequently the setting of said tumbler for the combination of the lock.

The hub; is provided with a fly-ring 55, having a fly 56 thereon, this fly-ring being inan annular groove 57 in the face of the hub. This annular groove forms an inner annular flange 58, which forms a journal for. the fly-ring, and an outerannular flange 59, in which there is a space (30, the fly being received in this space, and arranged to reciprocate back and forth therein, about the axis of the tumbler. The fly-ring is suitably held to the annular flange 58.

The fly-ring is located at one face of the V tumbler. A pin 64: extends from the other he outer periphaxis of a pin, engaging opposite sides of the fly, when the fiy is moved against opposite end walls of the recess, respectively, is in the same position relative to the hub.

The respective disks of the respective tumblers are provided with notches 65 which register with each other, and. with holes 66 which register with each other and with the slot 46 between the end walls 47 in the locking ring. A suitable key is arranged to be received through these holes, the walls of which form bearings for the key, and the slot 46 in the locking ring, for spreading the locking ring, in order to release the locking relation between the inner and outer members of the tumbler, for resetting the tumbler.

These holes 66 in all of the tumblers are caused to register with each other, by employing the combination to which the lock has been set, in registry with a setting mark whereupon the key is withdrawn for main-' taining the parts in their new relation.

The key for spreading the split locking ring 42 is shown at 71. It comprises a flat shank 72 having a wedge-shaped end 78 for readily entering the slot 46, the edges.

74; of said shank being guided by the walls of the bearings 66 for centering said shank. The shank is preferably received flatwise between the end walls 47 of the locking ring, without unlocking effect upon the locking ring. Rotation of the shank spreads the locking ring, this rotation being preferably to the extent of onefourth of a revolution in either direction. The locking ring is held in spread relation by the pressure of its end faces upon the key. The rotation of the key may be limited by providing the key with a ward 78 which is received in a recess 75 in the front face of the rear wall 16, provided with shoulders 70 against which the ward is arranged to strike for limiting rotative movement of the key.

The-key is also provided with a journalshank 76 rotatable in a bearing 77 in the rear plate 16. The ward 78 is on the inner endof the shank 7 Sand is received through a slot 79 in the bearing 77. The ward is arranged to move across the inner end of said bearing during rotation of said key, the inward movement of the key being arrested by a shoulder 80 there-on striking the bearing 77. i

The key is held endwise by coaction of its ward and shoulder with the bearing when. the key has been rotated. The ward 78, the walls of the slot 7 9, the side walls of the low reduced shank 72, and the end walls 47 l in the locking ring 42 extend in the same directions whilst said ward is in said slot in entering and removing the key, so as to'insure that the lockingrings have been contracted upon their respective hubs be fore removal of the key.

The key may be withdrawn directly from the separate tumblers without rerotating or reshifting the-same. v o

In each instance that the key is withdrawn from a separate tumbler or from the associated tumblers, return ot'the locking ring into locking relationis compelled, in order to preventthe members of any of the tumblers remaining in unlocked relation, whereby relative shifting of said members after being set is prevented.

A driving wheel 81 is mounted on-a spindle82, as by having a threaded hub 83, in which the inner end of the spindle is thread ed, a key 84 being received in complemental grooves in said spindle and said driving wheel for rotatively securing the spindle and driving Wheel together. The inner end of the spindle and the hub ofthe driving wheel are received in an axial recess in the outer end of the axle 21. The driving wheel is provided with a pin 86 arranged to want with the fly or thexouter fly-ring of the outer tumbler mounted on the axle.

A gear 87 is fixed to the driving wheel and is provided with an outwardly extending journal 88, journaled in a bearing 89 in the outer wall 13 of the casing. Theouter face of the gear bears against the inner end of said bearing for locating the gear and driving wheel in axial direction.

The spindle is provided with an annular flange 91, preferably integral therewith. This flange is of greater diameter'tha-n the diameter of the bearing 89, for arresting inwarc movementot the spindle, and thereby preventing the spindle from being driven inwardly. The dial-plate 52 and'the knob 68, are suitably secured to the spindle.

The front tace'ot the wall 11 is provided with a mark 92, with which the 'graduations on the dial-plate are'caused'to register for manipulating the combination for opening the lock. The graduations on the dial-plate are arranged to register with the mark 67 when manipulating the combination for resetting of the combination.

'The manipulation of the combination to which the lock has been set, in registry with the mark 67, sets the tumblers'so that the bearings 68 therein and the slots 46 in the split-rings, register with the bearing 77 in the inner plate, so that the key may be inserted into said holes and slots for releasing the outer members tromthe inner members ot'said tumblers. This may be done for the purpose of resetting the tumblers, and may also be done for disarranging the setting of 'manipulating the bolt.

key Without knowledge of the previous comv binatiomor without any definite setting of the combination of the lock having "been made. In my improved lock, further, the bearings and slots for the key in the respec= tive tumbler may be alined with the keyhole in the inner Wall 16 and the key inserted, in spite of disarrangement of the set-up rela tion in any of the tumblers.

This is accomplished by reason of the fact, that in the'manipulation of the lock for setting thecombination, the inner tumbler next to'the'key-hole in the lock is set first. The key may be pushed inward in the key-hole, and the knob turned, forinstance, toward the left, until the key, by axial pressure thereon, enters the bearing and slot in the inner tnmbler.' The knob is next turned toward the right until the key by axial pressure thereon enters'the bearing and slot in the second tumbler. Thereupon the knob is turned toward the left until the key, by outward axial pressure thereon by the fingers, enters the bearing and slot in the outer tumbler, whereupon the key may be turned for releasing the outer members from.

the inner members of the'respective tumblers, and the tumblers reset according to a new combination, by manipulation .otthe knob according to the setting desired for the new combination, employing the setting mark 67 for the purpose. The key is then turned into release position,-and pulled out of the lock, which fixes the relations between the inner and outer members oi" the tumblers according tothe new setting of the combination. l j

A pinion meshes with the gear 87. It is provided with a bearing sleeve 96. hearing sleeve is received about a journal 97.

A roekable member 98 is provided with a fence 99, a positioning wing 100, and an actuator wing 101. .The latter is usually connected with the bolt of the lock, for

The fence is arranged to enter the notch 94: in the driving wheel and the notches in the-respective tumblers, when the combination has been properly manipulated for opening the lock.

The

The journal 97 is shown in the form of a V screw, which is threaded into the front wall of the casing. A spring 102 is located in" an enlarged recess 103 in the rockable mem rotation or locking movement of the rock-- able member.

The proper setting of the tumblers places the respective notches thereon alongside of a the fence 99, and the movement of the driving wheel 81 by means of the outer knob causes the fence to enter said notchesand the notch in the driving wheel, the engagement of one of the. walls of the notch in the driving wheel rocking the rockable member about its axis for moving the actuator wing 101, which has any suitable or usual connection with the bolt of the lock, for withdrawing the bolt, whereupon the door may be opened.

By means of my improved device, the tumblers may be removed from the lock, and separately reset whilst removed from the lock, and replaced in the lock to form a new combination, or the key may be employed for the purpose of resetting the tumblers whilst they are retained in the lock.

It is of course obvious that changes may ne'made in the parts and their construction and arrangement, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from my invention. V I v v \Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: V

1. In a combination lock, the combination of a casing, a series of tumblers whose axes of rotation are coincident located in said casing, each of said tumblers comprising a pair of relatively adjustable members and adjusting means therefor for setting said tumbler. each of said tumblers provided at one face thereof with an inner flange and an outerflange forming a facial groove between them, said outer flange provided with a space, and a fly-ring in saidgroove having a bearing about said inner flange and provided with a fly in said space in said outer flange, and a driving wheel in the front portion of said lock, said driving wheel and said respective tumblers provided wi h pins respectively coacting with said flies and constructed and arranged whereby the tumbler most distant from said driving wheel is first positioned and the tumblers successively nearer said front portion of said lock are successively positioned whilst manipulating said tumblers for unlocking relation thereof, said tumblers provided with key receiving means, and constructed and arranged for successively alining said key receiving means byma-- members in adjusted relations, said locking means comprising opposed partsnormally urged in opposite directions for locked relation in said locking means, said opposed parts provided with contact faces spaced apart for permitting insertion of a flat portion of a key flatwise between them whilst said locking means are maintained in locked relation, said opposed parts arranged to be reversely moved by rotation of said flat portion between them and thereby presenting said flat portion edgewise between said contact faces for releasing said locking means and permitting relative adjustment between said members, and constructed and arranged for compelling locked relation of said locking me ans upon withdrawal of said key regardless of rerotating said key.

3. A tumbler for a combination lock comprising a hub having an annular face-groove in one face thereof forming an inner annular flange and an outer annular flange, said outer annular flange provided with a space, a flyring in said annular face-groove journaled about said inner annular flange and provided with a fly in said space, said hub provided with annular rabbets at its respective ends and an intermediate peripheral annular flange provided with peripheral teeth, spaced-apart disks having bores whese walls are located in said rabbets, said peripheral annular flange and teeth located in the space 7 between said disks, means connecting said disks, a pivot-pm between said disks in said space between said disks, an integral split spring locking ring provided with a bearing about said pivot-pin and with wings encompassing said toothed peripheral annular flange, said wings provided with complemental teeth normally urged into locking relation with the teeth of said peripheral said bearings Wherebyto spread said split spring locking rin 4. A tumbler for a combination lock coinprising a hub having an annular face-groove in one face thereof forming an inner annular flange and an outer annular flange, said outer annular flange provided With a space, a flyring in said annular face-groove journaled about said inner annular flange and provided with a fly in said space, said hub provided With annular rabbets at its respective ends and an intermediate peripheral annular flange provided With peripheral teeth spaced-apart disks having bores Whose Walls are located in said rabbets, said peripheral annular flange and teeth located in the space between said disks, means connecting said disks, a pivot-pin between said disks in said space between said disks, an integral split spring locking ring provided with a splitbearing about said pivot-pin and forming substantially semicircular Wings at the respective sides of said pivot-pin about said toothed peripheral annular flange, said Wings provided With coinplemental teeth normally urged into locking relation With the teeth of said peripheral annular toothed flange, and bearings for a key in said respective disks in line With and at the respective sides of the split in said ring, the Walls of said split provided With contact faces for said key received in said bearings for separating said Wings by rotation of said key and thereby releasing the teeth of said split spring locking ring from said peripheral annular toothed flange, and constructed and arranged for compelling reengageinent of said teeth of said split spring locking ring With said said key. v

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto peripheral annular toothed flange upon WithdraWal of said key regardless of rerotating 

